Monday, November 17, 2008

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Calls on Our Islamic Brothers and Sisters to Condemn ‘Heartless Killers’

The horrific attack on the Chabad House of Mumbai and the monstrous slaughter of its devoted Rabbi and wife, Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, gives the lie to the media´s description of these murderers as religious Muslim extremists. The world’s biggest atheist is more religious than these abominable fiends.  Not only are they cold-blooded, heartless killers, they are pious frauds and spiritual charlatans who not only live without any G-d, but who have set themselves up as deities and executioners.  When Osama bin Laden, whose own beard masks the face of the ultimate religious hypocrite, attacked the World Trade Center in New York, the target was purportedly chosen as the very symbol of American materialism and excess.  But what could these religious people have been thinking in targeting a twenty-something couple with young children who moved from the world´s richest country, the United States, to India to provide religious services, meals, and inspiration to the local community and visitors from around the world? What blow against Western decadence were they striking by targeting a Chabad House whose entire purpose it is to spread Godliness and spirituality to people whose lives lack it?

No man who claims to worship G-d could ever kill in the name of a Creator who expressly orders us not to murder.  But these impostors harbor no interest in religion and have utter contempt for G-d. They dictate their own morality and they answer to none but their own evil conscience. And that´s what makes them so utterly despicable and dangerous.
I was a Chabad emissary for 11 years in Oxford, England, and I can tell you it´s one of the hardest jobs in the world.  It involves feeding about a hundred people a week, giving non-stop classes, and chasing financial support day and night to pay the mounting bills. Those who volunteer to do so in poorer countries, like India, are men and women of even greater character and sacrifice. And now, this heroic couple is lost, amazing people who offered hospitality to thousands of Israeli backpackers and a home away from home for Jews and non-Jews and visitors from all over the world.  Our world is a much darker place without them in it.  We mourn along with their families and pray to G-d for their comfort.

This is the time for my Muslim cleric brethren from around the world to rise in chorus and condemn in the strongest possible terms the repulsive assassins who use Islam as an excuse to justify their hatred.  My righteous Islamic brothers and sisters, I call upon you to please proclaim these terrorists for what they are, religious frauds, pious charlatans, enemies of G-d, man, and especially of Islam. Our Islamic brethren should join together with us in the Jewish community whose hearts are broken and mourn the passing of a man and woman who gave up a life of material plenty to move far away from home so that the people there could share in the blessings of the tent of Abraham by discovering a home opened to all of G-d´s children.

I know the day will come when the children of Abraham will defeat agents of intolerance and come together as constituent members of an indivisible human family. We pray for that day to arrive soon.